Microfluidics chip design analysis and control

Ismet Unalli1, Sezgin Ersoy2, Ishak Ertugrul3

1, 2Departmentof Mechatronics Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
3Department of Mechatronics, Mus Alparslan University, Mus, Turkey
1Corresponding author

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Received 14 May 2020; received in revised form 20 May 2020; accepted 27 May 2020
DOI https://doi.org/10.21595/jmai.2020.21470
Copyright © 2020 Ismet Unalli, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract. Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) is an integrated electromechanical system

where the feature size and operating range of the components are on a micro-scale. Unlike
traditional mechanical processing, the production of the MEMS device uses semiconductor
manufacturing, which includes surface microprocessing and bulk microprocessing, which can be
compatible with an integrated circuit. These devices or systems have the ability to detect, control,
activate, and create macro-scale effects. In this study, a 3-channel microfluidic channel design
was realized by using the SolidWorks program, which is a 3D design program, to realize a
microfluidic chip design. The preliminary physical tests and investigation of this microfluidics
were made using the Comsol Multiphysics program and necessary time-dependent pressure tests.
In this study, it is aimed to understand the pressure and speed values of the microfluidic chip
according to the analysis. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the microfluidic chip has a
maximum pressure of 6.1 Pa and a speed of 2.36×1014 mm/s.
Keywords: microfluidics, COMSOL, MEMS, Solidworks.

1. Introduction

The development of semiconductor technologies, companies working in this field have entered
the race to reduce their production further and laid the foundations of today’s
Microelectromechanical systems using different production methods. Studies in this field started
in 1959. As the name implies, they are systems produced at micro and nano levels [1, 2].
Microfluidic chip systems are designed at micro levels, and there are channels through which
electric current can go. It is defined as a group of canals or an integrated circuit in which channels
through which fluid, air or heat pass through microfluidic channels range from a few µm to
several mm.
In the 1990s, poly-dimethyl oxane (PDMS) was developed. With this development, it has been
the most widely used in microfluidics and still has been widely used today. In the late 1990s,
microfluidic devices were created for cell biology applications such as cell and protein separation
modelling, cell-based biosensors, culture and research [3, 4].
Towards the 2000s, researchers began working on microfluidic devices that could be used as
tissue and organ models for drug discovery and development and developed the organ-on-a-chip
by examining biological processes. Since the 2000s, studies have been conducted on many tissue
models on the intestine, liver, brain, heart, eyes, skin, lungs, muscles, blood vessels and the chip
of the tumour [5-7].
By 2010, a biometric device was developed to mimic the lung alveolar-capillary interface with
its structural, functional and mechanical aspects. The device has human alveolar epithelial cells
on one side and human pulmonary-endothelial cells on the opposite or lower side. Human breath
is imitated by injecting air into the sidewall or walls of the alveolus and then vacuuming [8-10].
In 2018, drug absorption was attempted on an organ chip made with a model taken from the
intestine. In the microfluidic intestine, samples were placed in the upper part, and a porous
membrane separating it from the bottom was placed to check whether the drugs given were
absorbed.

2 JOURNAL OF MECHATRONICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ENGINEERING. JUNE 2020, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
 MICROFLUIDICS CHIP DESIGN ANALYSIS AND CONTROL.
ISMET UNALLI, SEZGIN ERSOY, ISHAK ERTUGRUL

In their work, Crowley and Pizziconi aimed to separate plasma from the blood by using planar
micro filters for laboratory applications on the chip. He also stated that the micro-scale blood
filtration design used in his study could have extensive effects in the field of separation
science [11].
Abate et al. Found experimentally that their “T” connections on microfluidics are clogged over
time. These connections in microfluidics are also found to occasionally block “T” rotations of
fluids in the form of droplets [12].
In the multi-port flow control study for Chien and Parce Lab on a chip microfluidic devices, it
aimed to reduce the time constant and develop an algorithm by calculating the pressures, and for
this, it installed an additional device with an external pressure booster multi-port inlet. In this way,
they emphasized that lab on a chip could open a new path for biochemical experiments. They have
also explained that the ability to control liquids flowing in microfluidics is always a leading feature
[13]. Pressure and speed control processes were carried out. There are many studies especially on
control applications [14-16].
In this study, the micro-fluid chip design and analysis with three inputs and one output, and
the pressure and speed in the microfluidic chip channels were controlled. These channels work in
advancing blood, and it will be possible to examine for a chemical system and flow cell.

2. Material and methods

2.1. Design criteria

Lab on a chip (LOC) studies have become increasingly popular in areas such as biochemistry
and bioengineering. It can incorporate all chemical processes such as chemical reactors, heat
exchangers, separators and mixers by various techniques or methods.
In this study, the design study of the microfluidic with three channels inlet and the single outlet
has been done. After modelling, optimization of infusion pressure, micro-channel design and time
control is discussed.
– A single-output microfluidic design that can have three channel inlets
– A suitable 3D geometric drawing as microfluidic controls will be time-dependent
In Fig. 1, the three-channel microfluidic design is made and scaled. The channel width is
30×30 µm. The channels located close to each other are determined as the input channel and will
be collected in the single-channel and will be the output channel.

Fig. 1. Three channel microfluidic channel design

2.2. Comsol multiphysics analysis

In this study, analyzes will be carried out through the Comsol program, as time-based fluids
will be studied through the microfluidic channel.

ISSN ONLINE 2669-1116, KAUNAS, LITHUANIA 3

 MICROFLUIDICS CHIP DESIGN ANALYSIS AND CONTROL.
ISMET UNALLI, SEZGIN ERSOY, ISHAK ERTUGRUL

In Fig. 1, the microfluidic chip made with 3D design SolidWorks program was added to
Comsol by “importing”. Then, the microfluidic chip meshed in accordance with the flow
dynamics. Then, the input parameters for the inlet-outlet channel were defined, and the inputs and
outputs were defined in the program. The fluid values passing through them are kept constant and
are as given in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2. Fluid properties

As indicated in Fig. 3, there are three input parameters. The explanations are as follows:
– p_in_rm: Pressure input in the microfluidic channel on the right side;
– p_in_c: Pressure inlet in the microfluidic channel in the middle;
– p_in_lm: Pressure input in the microfluidic channel on the left.

Fig. 3. Three channel microfluidic inlet parameters

3. Result and discussion

3.1. Analysis with Comsol

With the completion of the design studies in the material and method, some tests were carried
out using the finite element method to complete the pressure analysis based on time. In the
previous section, dynamic viscosity and density are defined for the inclusion of the designed LOCs
in the program, followed by entering the required pressure parameters for boundary conditions
and fluid information. Finally, Mesh process has been done. Similarly, the necessary tests have
started with the determination of inlets and outlets (outlet) determined on microfluidics.
In this study, volume flow analyzes on the microfluidic chip were evaluated over 𝑡 0.5 s.

Fig. 4. Three channel microfluidic (𝑡 0.5) flow direction

The direction graphs of the speeds on the Three Channel microfluidic design are shown in
Fig. 4. The entrances of the channels are numbered from left to right. Using the equation according
4 JOURNAL OF MECHATRONICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ENGINEERING. JUNE 2020, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
 MICROFLUIDICS CHIP DESIGN ANALYSIS AND CONTROL.
ISMET UNALLI, SEZGIN ERSOY, ISHAK ERTUGRUL

to the numbers, the flow, pressure effect and flow direction of the fluid varies in the channels. The
most velocity flow flows from the single output point and reaches a speed of 2.36×1014 mm/s. In
the number one input, the speed is almost between 0 and 1 mm/s, but the speed direction is
opposite to the input direction.

3.2. Pressure-time analysis

Time-dependent analysis of pressure is taken from one point of the outlet. When the output
graph in Fig. 5 is examined, it will be seen that it is periodic. According to this graph, the
maximum pressure was 6.1 Pa, and the minimum pressure was 5.37 Pa.

Fig. 5. Three channel microfluidic pressure-time graph

3.3. Speed-time analysis

Time-dependent analysis of speed is taken from one point of the output. When the output graph
in Fig. 6 is examined, it will be seen that it is periodic. According to this graph, the maximum
speed was 2.36×1014 mm/sec, and the minimum speed was 2×1014 mm/sec.

Fig. 6. Three channel microfluidic velocity-time analysis

4. Conclusions

Until recently, the development of miniaturized non-electronic devices has lagged behind the
miniaturization trend in microelectronics. In the late 1970s, silicon technology also expanded the
processing of mechanical microdevices, and later became known as microelectromechanical
systems (MEMS). However, although it is common to use MEMS as the term of microtechnology
used today, it is not true. With the fluid and optical components in microdevices, microsystem
technology (MST) appears as a more accurate definition.

ISSN ONLINE 2669-1116, KAUNAS, LITHUANIA 5

 MICROFLUIDICS CHIP DESIGN ANALYSIS AND CONTROL.
ISMET UNALLI, SEZGIN ERSOY, ISHAK ERTUGRUL

In this study, the SolidWorks program, one of the 3D design programs, was used to realize a
microfluidic chip design. For the preliminary physical tests and investigation of this microfluidic,
the time and pressure-dependent velocity analyzes were performed using the Comsol Multiphysics
program using the finite element method.
According to the analysis of the microfluidic chip, pressure and velocity values were obtained
in this study. As a result of the analysis, it has been observed that the microfluidic chip has a
maximum pressure of 6.1 Pa and a speed of 2.36×1014 mm/s. These values obtained will be of
great importance in the fabrication of the chip. Also, it is thought that this study will be an essential
resource for future stages.

References

[1] Ertugrul I., Akkus N., Yuce H. Fabrication of bidirectional electrothermal microactuator by
two-photon polymerization. Materials and Technology, Vol. 53, Issue 5, 2019, p. 665-670.
[2] Ertugrul I., Akkus N., Aygul E., Yalcinkaya S., Ertunç H. MEMS fabrication using PµSL technique
based 3D printer. International Journal of 3D Printing Technologies and Digital Industry, Vol. 4,
Issue 1, 2020, p. 38-43.
[3] Folch A., Toner M. Cellular micro models on biocompatible materials. Biotechnology Programs,
Vol. 12, Issue 3, 1998, p. 388-392.
[4] Shang L., Cheng Y., Zhao Y. Emerging droplet microfluidics. Chemical Reviews, Vol. 117, Issue 12,
2017, p. 7967-7968.
[5] Whulanza Y., et al. Realization and testing of lab-on-chip for human lung replication. Journal of
Engineering and Applied Sciences, Vol. 9, Issue 11, 2014, p. 2064-2067.
[6] Ghaemmaghami A. M., Hancock M. J., Harrington H., Kaji H., Khademhosseini A. Biomimetic
tissues on a chip for drug discovery. Drug Discovery Today, Vol. 17, 2012, p. 173-181.
[7] Huh D., Matthews B. D., Mammoto A., Montoya-Zavala M., Hsin H. Y., Ingber D. E.
Reconstruction of lung function at the organ level on a chip. Science, Vol. 328, Issue 5986, 2010,
p. 1662-1668.
[8] Williamson A., Singh S., Fernekorn U., Schober A. The future of the body on patient-specific chips.
Lab Chip, Vol. 13, Issue 18, 2013, p. 3471-3480.
[9] Moraes C., Labuz J. M., Leung B. M., Inoue M., Chun T. H., Takayama S. Being the right size:
scaling effects in the design of a person on a chip. Integrative Biology, Vol. 5, 2013, p. 1149-1161.
[10] Esch E. W., Bahinski A., Huh D. Organs on chips at the borders of drug discovery. Nature Reviews
Drug Discovery, Vol. 14, Issue 4, 2015, p. 248.
[11] Crowley T. A., Pizziconi V. Isolation of plasma from whole blood using planar microfliter for
lab-on-a-chip applications. Journal of Royal Society of Chemistry, Vol. 5, 2005, p. 922-929.
[12] Abate A. R., Mary P., Steijn V. V., Weitz D. A. Experimental validation of plugging during drop
formation in a T-junction. Lab Chip, Vol. 12, Issue 8, 2011, p. 1516-1521.
[13] Chien R. L., Parce W. J. Multiport flow-control system for lab-on-a-chip microfluidic devices.
Springer, Vol. 371, Issue 2, 2001, p. 106-111.
[14] Kuncan M., Kaplan K., Fatih A. C. A. R., Kundakçi I. M., Ertunç H. M. Fuzzy logic based ball
on plate balancing system real time control by image processing. International Journal of Natural and
Engineering Sciences, Vol. 10, Issue 3, 2016, p. 28-32.
[15] Öztürk S., Karakuzu C., Kuncan M., Erdil A. Fuzzy neural network controller as a real time
controller using PSO. Journal of Engineering and Science – APJES, Vol. 5, Issue 1, 2017, p. 15-22.
[16] Kaplan K., Kundakci I. M., Kuncan M., Toprak E., Izgu A., Ertunc H. M. Process control methods
application in training set. International Journal of Natural and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 10, Issue 2,
2016, p. 35-42.

Ismet Unalli is a master student at Marmara University. He graduated Mechatronics

Engineering of bachelor’s degree in Sakarya University in 2016. He got new information
and skills about 3D printer, 3D scanner, CNC Router, Laser carving machine also designed
a 3D chocolate printer etc. After this work he started a technical department chief at Akar
Machine in Eskisehir, worked in 2019. He had information on autoclave (glass, tires,
composite, sterilization etc.) and machines of rubber coating.

6 JOURNAL OF MECHATRONICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ENGINEERING. JUNE 2020, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
 MICROFLUIDICS CHIP DESIGN ANALYSIS AND CONTROL.
ISMET UNALLI, SEZGIN ERSOY, ISHAK ERTUGRUL

Sezgin Ersoy is an Associate Professor of Mechatronics Engineering and Material

Science. After graduating from Marmara University, he became a faculty member at the
same university. His publications include a variety of efforts to understand changes in
automotive mechatronics, polymer science and biomedical technologies. He is the author
of chapter Science Education in a Rapidly Changing World, USA 2011, and the author in
Acoustic Properties of Bio Materials, Stuttgart, 2010. He has two science national awards
and is an Editorial Member of several scientific journals.

Ishak Ertugrul received Ph.D. degree in Science and Engineering Institute from Marmara
University, Istanbul, Turkey, in 2019. Now he works at Mus Alparslan University. His
current research interests include MEMS, NEMS and Fabrication.

ISSN ONLINE 2669-1116, KAUNAS, LITHUANIA 7